Lip Man 1

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2025/12/22/white-sox-munetaka-murikami-has-team-talking-big-but-will-this-work-out

If the Bears go to Indiana it will be just like the Giants and Jets playing in New Jersey. They are still the New York teams and the Bears will still be Chicago's team. I wouldn't lose any sleep over this (nor will I lose any sleep over the "reports" the Sox are moving to Nashville!) 🤡 The Bears will get the cooperation from Illinois politicians when they come up with a way to pay off the outstanding money still owed from the renovations in 2002 not before that's been made very clear in published statements to the media.

Depends on your definition of competitive I think. Could they not lose 100 games this year? Maybe, it all depends on pitching and if they can keep guys healthy. The starting rotation is still basically unproven and the bullpen is still a mess. And let's not forget the injury situation which has gutted them since around 2018 when four players making their MLB debut couldn't even make it through their first game without getting seriously hurt. They have the benefit of playing in a mediocre division though. If they only lose 90 games this year that would be a "success".

It's a gamble since he seems to have holes in his swing, from a defensive standpoint and an injury history but really what is there to lose at this stage until Ishbia takes over? Fegan at Sox Machine with a detailed look: https://soxmachine.com/2025/12/the-white-sox-and-munetaka-murakami-have-nothing-to-lose

They did say Goff scored a touchdown but that was negated by the offensive pass interference ending the game.

Given JR took him to arbitration over 50 thousand dollars left a bad taste in Gio and his agent mouths, keep that in mind.

Brad Biggs' the Tribune Bears beat writer offers his thoughts: "Seriously, as best I understand the situation, the Bears are eyeing the possibility of putting up a stadium in Hammond. Either that or before lawmakers return to Springfield in 2026, the team is attempting a leverage play as it seeks public funding for infrastructure around Arlington Heights that could approach $1 billion as well as tax breaks. “This is not about leverage,” Warren wrote in the letter. If you have to say it’s not about leverage, it’s only about leverage. The franchise’s stadium pursuit has become such a flip-flop operation, at this point it’s literally all over the map. Pick a town, any town."

https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-white-sox-mark-feinsand https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2025/12/21/white-sox-to-sign-japanese-slugger-munetaka-murakami

Bears are in the playoffs...amazing. As far as I'm concerned anything over and above this is gravy. https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/12/21/bears-make-playoffs-for-first-time-since-2020-as-aaron-rodgers-leads-steelers-to-29-24-win-over-lions

Very unexpected but it's nice to see the Sox doing something that on paper can be productive for next season. His contract appears to be one that JR was OK with, only two years.

A Christmas miracle indeed. Although I really don't want to have to play the Packers again in the playoffs.

True, winning seasons in 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 96 with a playoff appearance.

https://www.southsidesox.com/chicago-white-sox-commentary-and-analysis/118790/raiding-the-rays-and-red-sox

The politicians respond: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears-stadium/2025/12/18/chicago-bears-indiana-stadium-illinois-legislation And so do the media: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/12/18/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-indiana-kevin-warrens-gambit-wrong-time-packers-real-football-nfl https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/chicago-bears-stadium-indiana-mccaskeys/

In a sense by owning the team for these many decades JR has brought some stability to the franchise. Like all of us he's a complicated guy who has done some very good things from a community/charitable standpoint. From a baseball standpoint he has done things that make you go, 'what could he be thinking of?'

I'm guessing a lot of people in power and voters are asking the same thing.

Anytime the Sox can get someone from a successful organization with a history of developing young talent and winning is fine by me. Even better he has zero Royals connections.

That's a great point, the Bears are just going to kiss-off a 200 million dollar investment? Anything is possible and I don't know if they'd be able to sell that land to someone and get their money back. Like I posted originally this smacks of desperation to me a "threat" to move unless they get what they want. It worked for JR back in the day, we'll see if the same ploy works again. The Gary Steel Bears...has a nice ring to it. 😉

Given those circumstances you wonder what they could possibly be thinking regarding the TV move and starting their new network. That was foolish given the environment, capital outlay and resistance from carriers.

Pritzker responds: “The Governor’s a Bears fan who has always wanted them to stay in Chicago. He has also said that ultimately they are a private business that makes their own decisions, but the Governor has also been clear that the bottom line for any private business development should not come at the full expense of taxpayers.” Pritzker and other Democratic legislative leaders who pull the levers in Springfield have suggested the team needs to find a mechanism to pay off the $500 million-plus that taxpayers still have left to foot from Soldier Field’s 2003 renovation. https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/12/17/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-kevin-warren-shift

Maybe and maybe their politicians will feel the same way as the ones in Illinois after their voters let them know how they feel and I don't see where that would be a catastrophe if they moved across the state line. The Giants and Jets don't play in New York state.

While it makes some sense... given the current environment, how things are going in the country everywhere, including Illinois, I don't see many politicians sticking their necks out to help the McCaskey family who are worth let's just say a s$%^ load of money. This letter kind of reminds me of desperation setting in by the Bears, I think they know they are between a rock and a hard place regarding the politicians. I don't know if the political will is there and how much political capital the Bears have or leverage. And remember the debt still owed to the renovation in 2002. I mean what are they going to do? Move to St. Louis? 😉

Makes sense but remember who is running the show here.

I specifically said I didn't like it but it was at least a "solution." Since the MLBPA will NEVER agree to a salary cap so that is a pipe dream. As a thought experiment I'd divide things up into three groups. The franchises spending/really trying to win, the middle group that spend somewhat and does try to compete and the bottom group that spends very little, has bad ownerships and basically is coasting along. And like in European soccer if you are successful/ get new ownership you can move up if you wish. I just put it out there because again the only other suggestion I saw was a salary cap/salary floor which is never going to happen under any circumstances. Here's roughly how I'd divide it: A: Toronto, Yankees, Boston, Seattle, Houston, Philadelphia, Mets, Dodgers B: Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Detroit, Texas, Angels, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Cubs, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona. C : Kansas City, Minnesota, White Sox, Athletics, Miami, Washington, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Colorado Again you can debate/move teams around like Tampa, Cleveland and Cincinnati for example. Just a thought experiment remember, not liking the idea myself.

You wonder how much of this situation is on Sosa or on the Sox minor/major league staff for being unable to teach the fundamentals. I'm guessing both are in play here Sosa and the organization.